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Tom Platts
Partner

Contact details

Tom is a corporate and commercial law expert at Stephenson Harwood’s Singapore office. He has extensive experience of advising on complex cross-border M&A and capital markets transactions, particularly within South and Southeast Asia. International clients value Tom's commercial, pragmatic advice and his energetic approach to developing long-term client relationships.

Profile

Services

Sectors

Locations

He acts on all forms of domestic and cross-border M&A, strategic joint ventures and corporate restructurings. He also has particular expertise in advising on capital markets transactions.

Having worked for many years in London, Tom moved to Southeast Asia in 2011, where he advises a significant base of blue-chip international corporate, banking and funds clients.

In recent years, he has worked on complex deals in every jurisdiction in ASEAN, with a specific expertise advising on transactions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Tom is currently ranked in Myanmar as a leading individual by Chambers Asia Pacific and is also a recommended lawyer by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for the Corporate M&A and Capital Markets categories for foreign firms, and for the Foreign Firms category in Myanmar and Philippines.

He is a legal adviser to the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and is also appointed to the editorial board of HealthInvestor Asia. Tom has most recently joined the global advisory board of Inle Advisory Group, a boutique firm focused on development opportunities in Myanmar.

His straight-forward and pro-active approach to solving complex matters is particularly appreciated by clients, together with his in-depth sector and jurisdictional knowledge and his willingness to "go the extra mile" for them.

"Very knowledgeable – a 'go-to' lawyer"

Jeremy Birks, General Counsel - Digicel Asia Pacific

Public and private M&A

Joint ventures

Equity capital markets

Private equity and venture capital

Public and private M&A

Tom advises clients on a broad spectrum of M&A transactions, including public takeover offers and private company asset or share deals, often with complex cross-border elements. Key transactions include:

General Mills

General Mills on the restructuring of its Häagen-Dazs business in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Quantum Pacific Shipping

Advised Quantum Pacific Shipping on a share disposal to Norway’s Ocean Yield ASA to establish a joint venture for the construction and operation of six mega container vessels, with an aggregate value of US$1 billion.

Engie (formerly GDF Suez)

Advising on its acquisition of Keppel FMO in Singapore and Qatar.

Myanmar Investments International Limited

Advising Myanmar Investments International Limited on its consortium investments in Apollo Towers in Myanmar, a leading telecommunications tower infrastructure provider.

Digicel Group

Advising Digicel Group on regional aspects of its US$221 million disposal to Axiata of Digicel Myanmar Tower Company. (M&A deal of the year – ALB SE Asia Awards 2016)

McGraw Hill Financial, Inc.

Advising NYSE quoted McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. on its acquisition of the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC), a conference for leaders in the oil and gas industry in Asia, based in Singapore.

Corporation Service Company

Advising Corporation Service Company on its acquisition of Koehler Group, an international accounting and management consulting firm with operations in Asia and also on its acquisition of the IP Mirror group, a leading provider of corporate domain name registration and online brand protection services across Asia.

POSH

Advising a leading offshore marine services provider in Singapore, on its acquisition from Eide Marine of the semi-submersible, XANADU.

Zurich Insurance Group

Advising on its acquisition of a 100% foreign interest in Malaysian insurer MAA Holdings Berhad and various related companies.

BAA

Advising on the £16.4 billion hostile takeover by Grupo Ferrovial SA and a competing bid from a Goldman Sachs-led consortium.

British American Tobacco

Advising on its M&A in the UK, Scandinavia, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Philippines.

Diageo

Advising on the buy-out of its local partner in the Philippines.

An international investment bank

Advising on its role as independent financial adviser for the purposes of the Takeover Code in Singapore, in the context of Heineken's takeover of Fraser & Neave.

Sime Darby Plantation

Advising in Malaysia on various transactions, including its acquisition with SP Setia of Battersea Power Station.

Gazpromneft

Advising on its acquisition of Sibir Energy and related global settlement arrangements.

Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation

Advising on its £584 million takeover of Central African Mining & Exploration Company.

Escape Hunt plc

Advised the Escape Hunt Group, a Thailand-headquartered provider of live 'escape the room' gaming experiences, on its reverse takeover of Dorcaster plc, a related equity placing and the re-admission of Dorcaster plc as Escape Hunt plc on AIM.

Joint ventures

Tom has extensive experience in advising on joint ventures, whether it concerns their formation, termination, the exit or entry of a party or the transfer of stakes between the existing parties. Key transactions include:

Engie (formerly GDF Suez)

Advising on its complex district cooling joint venture arrangements in the Philippines.

Assetz Group

The Chandler Corporation

Advising on complex pharmaceutical and healthcare joint ventures in India, Bangladesh, United States, Pakistan, Kenya, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Escape Hunt plc

Advised the Escape Hunt Group, a Thailand-headquartered provider of live 'escape the room' gaming experiences, on its reverse takeover of Dorcaster plc, a related equity placing and the re-admission of Dorcaster plc as Escape Hunt plc on AIM.

Equity capital markets

Tom advises clients on all forms of equity capital markets transactions, having worked on a number of high-profile IPO and secondary issuances for issuer, NOMAD/Sponsor and underwriting banks. Key transactions include:

Dart Energy

Advising on its regional corporate restructuring and proposed IPO on the Main Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange.

Lonmin

Advising on its BEE transaction with Shanduka Resources and related £160 million placing of shares.

San Leon Energy

Merrill Lynch International

Private equity and venture capital

Tom has advised several international venture capital and private equity houses as well as management teams and corporates transacting with venture capital/private equity houses and their investee companies. Key transactions include:

Bridestory Indonesia

Advising on all legal aspects of its seed and "A" round venture capital funding as well as various connected joint venture arrangements in Southeast Asia.

Manubeni

Consumer

Tom has acted for a wide variety of corporate finance, commercial and M&A transactions involving the consumer sector clients and has a specific focus on luxury goods and brands. Key transactions include:

General Mills

Advised General Mills on the restructuring of its Häagen-Dazs business in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Advising on its Myanmar joint venture and commercial arrangements.

Stella International Holdings

Advising the manufacturer and designer for Jimmy Choo, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors and others, on their shoe manufacturing and distribution joint venture in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar.

British American Tobacco

Advising on its M&A in the UK, Scandinavia, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Philippines.

LIM Advisors

Advising a Hong Kong-based hedge fund, on various matters including its minority co-investment with CVCI Private Equity and Thai Strategic Capital Management in Wuttisak Clinic Inter Group Company Limited, a leading skincare clinic chain operator in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Diageo

Advising on the buy-out of its local partner in the Philippines.

The Martin-Brower Company

Advising on its strategic arrangements with various Singapore and Malaysian logistics suppliers in connection with its acquisition of the McDonald's account.

Tui Travel

Advising on the restructuring of its Asia Rooms business unit in Asia.

Luc Clément

Advising on the €40 million sale of CNC Collections to Supergroup (the owners of the Superdry clothing brand).

British American Tobacco

Advising on its dual listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

George Davies

Advising on the establishment of the FG4, GiVE and Per Una brands in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

An international investment bank

Advising on its role as independent financial adviser for the purposes of the Takeover Code in Singapore, in the context of Heineken's acquisition of Fraser & Neave.

Funds and financial services

Myanmar Investments International Limited

Advising Myanmar Investments International Limited on its consortium investments in Apollo Towers in Myanmar, a leading telecommunications tower infrastructure provider.

LIM Advisors

Advising a Hong Kong-based hedge fund, on various matters including its minority co-investment with CVCI Private Equity and Thai Strategic Capital Management in Wuttisak Clinic Inter Group Company Limited, a leading skincare clinic chain operator in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Crestview, L.P and funds associated with Lord (Jacob) Rothschild

Advising on their 24.9% strategic investment into Martin Currie.

Sherborne Investors

Advising on their investments into F&C Asset Management, Spirent Communications and Elementis and all aspects of the ensuing stakeholder/management engagements.

TMT

Tom has significant experience advising technology, media and telecoms businesses across all aspects of their corporate, commercial and M&A activities and operations. Key transactions include:

Myanmar Investments International Limited

Advising Myanmar Investments International Limited on its consortium investments in Apollo Towers in Myanmar, a leading telecommunications tower infrastructure provider.

Digicel Group

Advising Digicel Group on regional aspects of its US$221 million disposal to Axiata of Digicel Myanmar Tower Company. (M&A deal of the year – ALB SE Asia Awards 2016)

Corporation Service Company

Advising Corporation Service Company on its acquisition of Koehler Group, an international accounting and management consulting firm with operations in Asia and also on its acquisition of the IP Mirror group, a leading provider of corporate domain name registration and online brand protection services across Asia.

Red Dot Network

Advising on all aspects of its cash acceptance network roll-out and voucher and couponing business.

Bridestory Indonesia

Advising on all legal aspects of its seed and "A" round venture capital funding as well as various connected joint venture arrangements in the region.

Bharti Airtel

Myanmar

Myanmar Investments International Limited

Advising Myanmar Investments International Limited on its consortium investments in Apollo Towers in Myanmar, a leading telecommunications tower infrastructure provider.

Myanmar Red Dot Network

Advising on a range of commercial activities and services linked to its mobile
transaction platform, including mobile phone top up and bill payments.

Digicel Group

Advising Digicel Group on regional aspects of its US$221 million disposal to Axiata of Digicel Myanmar Tower Company. (M&A deal of the year – ALB SE Asia Awards 2016)

Aggreko

Advising on certain commercial arrangements connected to various temporary power projects in Myanmar.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Advising on the establishment of its franchise business in Myanmar.

Campana Group

Advising on all of the regulatory aspects and fundraising steps for Campana Group, a well-known regional broadband sub-sea capacity provider.

Orica

Advising on the distribution of commercial explosives in Myanmar through its local partner.

Norstar Shipping

Advised Norstar Shipping on its market entry into Myanmar and ongoing operations, including employment issues connected to its crewing business.

Indonesia

British American Tobacco

Advising on its acquisition of Bentoel in Indonesia.

Bridestory

Advising Indonesia's leading online wedding vendor directory on all legal aspects of its seed and "A" round venture capital funding, as well as various connected joint venture arrangements in the region.

Polaris Limited

Advising Catalist-listed affiliate of Trikomsel in its acquisition of XMI, a multimedia company and developers and manufacturers of the popular X-Mini speakers.

Southeast Asia

Tom has acted on a range of complex cross-border (both in-bound and out-bound) M&A and capital markets transactions in South and Southeast Asia.
In recent years, Tom has worked on complex deals in every jurisdiction in ASEAN, with a specific expertise advising on transactions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, in many of which he is recognised by ​The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as being a recommended lawyer and the head of our market-leading jurisdiction teams.

Myanmar Investments International Limited

Advised AIM-quoted Myanmar Investments International Limited on a series of consortium investments into Apollo Towers (alongside TPG Capital) with an aggregate value in excess of US$320 million including a US$250 million facility by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

Mitsui Oil Exploration Co.

Advising on its market entry to Myanmar.

Bridestory Indonesia

Advising on all legal aspects of its seed and "A" round venture capital funding as well as various connected joint venture arrangements in the region.

Africa

Tom has advised numerous European and Asian businesses on their investments into Africa, most recently into Kenya, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana. Tom has previously advised on some of the largest M&A transactions involving international investors in Africa. Key transactions include:

Bharti Airtel

Sumitomo

Europe

Tom has extensive experience of acting on a range of corporate finance, M&A and commercial matters in the UK and Europe, having worked in London for more than ten years. He has acted on a number of very large UK takeovers and private M&A and capital markets transactions for large UK companies, investments banks and funds.

Gazpromneft

Advising on its acquisition of Sibir Energy and related global settlement arrangements.

BAA

Advising on the £16.4 billion recommended takeover offer by a consortium led by Group Ferrovial and a competing bid from a Goldman Sachs-led consortium.

Warner Music

Advising on various issues including several abortive takeover bids with EMI and its proposed offer to acquire BMG music from the Bertelsmann Group.

Lonmin

​Advising on its BEE transaction with Shanduka Resources and related £160 million placing of shares.